Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
All Commentaries on Matthew 5:12 Go To Matthew 5
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
It may be asked, what difference there is between ‘they shall revile you,’ and ‘shall speak all manner of evil of you;’ to revile, it may be said, being but to speak evil of. But a reproach thrown with insult in the face of one present is adifferent thing from a slander cast on the character of the absent. To persecute includes both open violence and secret snares.
Serm. in Mont., i, 5: Do not suppose that by heaven here is meant the upper regions of the sky of this visible world, for your reward is not to be placed in things that are seen, but by “in heaven” understand the spiritual firmament, where everlasting righteousness dwells. Those then whose joy is in things spiritual will even here have some foretaste of that reward; but it will be made perfect in every part when this mortal shall have put on immortality.
“Persecuted” He says generally, comprehending both reproaches and defamation of character.
